Epiphany

People tend to say, "Oh, I had an epiphany," when what they mean is some sudden realization came upon them, swooped down upon them and they saw things in a new light. I am looking at my old dictionary here, and it says epiphany means, "A revelatory manifestation of a divine being." Not exactly the same as having a new insight. More like The Revelation, rather than a revelation.

Unless you do not believe in divine beings, of course. Unless you worship humanity over all, and then, I guess, your own newly generated idea would seem pretty fine--a revelation!, if not downright divine. Humans do so love themselves and their things!

Oh, don't mind me. I am here at home in the descending twilight wishing someone would come along and say, "How about I make you a cup of tea?" And then I get to sit there while the water boils and the tea steeps and the soy milk is added and the bag is removed, and the tea is served to me. I would not have to get up once! Not once. I could sit and enjoy. Sounds like luxury to me.

Some of us are meant to be served, and some of us are meant to do the serving. Guess which camp I fall into?

It's okay! Really. And so, anyway....

...We celebrated capital-E Epiphany in church today, the remembering of the 3 Wise Men, the learned astronomers of Persia arriving to visit the infant Jesus. They had prognosticated the birth of this divine being, this Messiah, this Emmanuel or God-With-Us (not God far away and up there, back turned and uncaring, but right here, with us!). They had travelled many months across unfamiliar terrain to reach the baby around the time of his birth. They had stopped by King Herod's place along the way to see what he knew of this divine baby, did he know where he was he born? Herod had heard rumors of Bethlehem, and pointed them that way. But he did not know exactly where this upstart, this infant threat to his power might be. So as they left, he asked them to return to him and tell him where the baby lay.

They were guided on their way by a bright light in the sky--it led them directly to the stable of Jesus's birth. But they never returned to Herod; one of them had had a dream warning them not to go back. And they heeded that dream. For Herod would have killed that baby boy. And when Herod realized they had not returned to him, old despot that he was, he ordered that all the newborn baby boys be sought out and killed. Every single one. Crude and effective--he wasn't taking any chances. And yet, somehow the Holy Family was warned of this, and so they fled to Egypt, and lived there for many years.

Journeys in the dark, lights in the sky, dreams, visions, holy children, timely escapes. Pretty far out stuff. I read of these wonders and glories and mysteries and my heart soars. Whether or not the language is symbolic or literal, reportage straight and true or metaphor and creative imagery, the heart of the story shines forth. Something pretty special happened in the days when that particular baby was born, so special in fact, the story is still being told.

The poet Christina Rosetti wrote the lyrics to a song called 'In The Bleak Mid Winter'. Gustav Holst provided the score. And some of the lyrics recall the Wise Astronomers who travelled so far to see this miraculous newborn being, and the precious gifts they brought to him. But what Rosetti says is this:

"What shall I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb.
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part.
Yet what I can I give him;
I give him my heart."

That's why I don't mind so much being one of those who do the serving. Because love is what it is all about. How about that for an epiphany?